• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Your first car

Status
Not open for further replies.

37114

Member
Joined
4 Jul 2019
Messages
320
My first car was a 1989 Renault 21 GTS, my Dad bought it in 1993, I learnt to drive on it in 1995, then bought it off my parents in 2001 when I finished Uni, then owned it until 2005 when it had done 215k. I sold it on ebay to a guy who exported it to Romania for spares. In 2003 someone drove into the front wing and looked like it was going to be a write off so I bought my second car a 1977 Series 3 Land Rover which I still own and am in the final stages of a total rebuild.
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

LowLevel

Established Member
Joined
26 Oct 2013
Messages
7,543
I suspect the finance system does indeed distort the figures. When I bought my first new car in 2012 (after decades of company cars) I had the cash available, but there was an additional £1000 discount on offer if I used the manufacturer's finance scheme. To get it, I'd have to borrow a minimum of 20% of the price, but there was no minimum term, so I paid 16k directly, borrowed 4k, and paid it off in full in the first month. All this was at the salesman's suggestion.
So I imagine that purchase would count as "on finance" even though I'd bought it outright within a month.

I've had a few such discounts on various things with finance. The unofficial advice from the sales bod (which generally checked out) was take the finance and any discounts, pay all off bar the last payment and let that go out by direct debit thus avoiding any early settlement fees.
 

Aictos

Established Member
Joined
28 Apr 2009
Messages
10,403
I wrote my first car off in 1991 after passing my test and being on the road for 1 week, 2 hours and 5 minutes.
I don’t think I’m ready to talk about it though...
I don't think that's too bad, I've known worse as to my first car it was a Nissan Micra while learning to drive and then a Ford Escort Estate when I had passed.
 

Eyersey468

Established Member
Joined
14 Sep 2018
Messages
2,135
I bought my first and so far only car just after my mum died in 2014. I bought a Dacia Sandero Stepway for £9.5k. I traded in my mum's Kia Picanto for £3k, and the rest went on my debit card, also money I'd inherited from her.

I drove the Picanto for a year or so, but hated it. The boot was too small and one of the wing mirrors kept falling off! I know petrolheads scoff at Dacias, but I love my car. It's been impeccably reliable, and the huge boot is the best in class.
One of my ex workmates bought a new Stepway on 2015 and loves it.
 

Journeyman

Established Member
Joined
16 Apr 2014
Messages
6,295
One of my ex workmates bought a new Stepway on 2015 and loves it.
For everyday motoring, it's brilliant. It's a tad basic in some respects, and if you spend half your life behind the wheel, I'd fully understand if you wanted something a bit more sophisticated. However, for me, the value for money has been extraordinary, and I'd recommend them to anyone.
 

Stormaggeddon

Member
Joined
15 Dec 2011
Messages
18
Passed in 1997. First car was a blue 1987 Ford Escort Popular which even then was more rust than metal, only had a 4 speed gearbox and a manual choke. Was replaced with a 1993 purple Vauxhall Cavaliar that was owned by an ex girlfriends parents. I still miss that car.... It was, sadly, reduced to being the size of a Ford Ka around Christmas 2004 as I was in a pile up on the M25. Was replaced with a 2002 new shape silver Vectra by work. That lasted until 2007 when it was written off on Scotswood Road in Newcastle due to being side shunted by a van that didn't stop at a red light. I didn't miss that car. Got a 2004 Vectra as a replacement but it just kept going and it never actually failed an MOT. My company went bust in 2009 and they let me (or forced me, depending on how you look at the Vectra, it was a "lovely" green colour) to keep the car. It soldiered on until last August when I replaced it with an 18 month old Audi A6. I must have been really lucky with this one as it came with indicators which, from driving around the place, seem to be an optional extra for some models.
 

route101

Established Member
Joined
16 May 2010
Messages
10,595
I can well imagine this being the case, not many people can afford to buy a new car outright. Especially not in today’s world where people need to be seen to be “keeping up with the Joneses”. Those low spec Audis, Mercs and Beemers aren’t cheap you know!
Yes, I noticed all these younger people driving Audi A3s and BMW 1 series. I cant afford a decent ca outright but finance seems a mugs game. Would a bank loan of say 4k be better idea?
 

Journeyman

Established Member
Joined
16 Apr 2014
Messages
6,295
Yes, I noticed all these younger people driving Audi A3s and BMW 1 series. I cant afford a decent ca outright but finance seems a mugs game. Would a bank loan of say 4k be better idea?
If you've got a credit card with a suitable credit limit, put it on that, and then transfer the whole lot onto another credit card with a 0% balance transfer offer.
 

507021

Established Member
Joined
19 Feb 2015
Messages
4,670
Location
Chester
Yes, I noticed all these younger people driving Audi A3s and BMW 1 series. I cant afford a decent ca outright but finance seems a mugs game. Would a bank loan of say 4k be better idea?

Not me, I'm bucking the trend with my 51-reg Rover 75 and 03-reg Renault Laguna, paying less than £2,000 combined to acquire them. I've had the latter for nearly six years and it's been extremely reliable, with the only major expense in that time being a clutch replacement.

I'm pretty sure my friends think my taste in cars is rather odd.
 

DustyBin

Established Member
Joined
20 Sep 2020
Messages
3,613
Location
First Class
Yes, I noticed all these younger people driving Audi A3s and BMW 1 series. I cant afford a decent ca outright but finance seems a mugs game. Would a bank loan of say 4k be better idea?

You could do what @Journeyman has suggested, or get a low interest bank loan. Finance is fine if you know what you're doing, which I don't think many people do. Occasionally you get lucky and get 0% interest on a PCP from a dealer, but there's still the G(M)FV or 'guaranteed (minimum) future value' to consider which is where people get stung (or at least don't get a good deal). The other thing to watch out for is the interest rate on used/nearly new cars; it can completely negate the supposed benefit of the car having already depreciated!
 

Bletchleyite

Veteran Member
Joined
20 Oct 2014
Messages
97,539
Location
"Marston Vale mafia"
You could do what @Journeyman has suggested, or get a low interest bank loan. Finance is fine if you know what you're doing, which I don't think many people do. Occasionally you get lucky and get 0% interest on a PCP from a dealer, but there's still the G(M)FV or 'guaranteed (minimum) future value' to consider which is where people get stung (or at least don't get a good deal). The other thing to watch out for is the interest rate on used/nearly new cars; it can completely negate the supposed benefit of the car having already depreciated!

I've never found a dealer to get anywhere near what I've managed to get as a personal loan in terms of rate, unless 0% was offered.
 

trebor79

Established Member
Joined
8 Mar 2018
Messages
4,435
I've never found a dealer to get anywhere near what I've managed to get as a personal loan in terms of rate, unless 0% was offered.
Best way is to negotiate a discount if you take up their expensive finance. Then pay the finance off within the statutory period and you've saved some cash on the car and not been lumbered with the expensive finance.

First car was a Mk4 Escort I bought from my then girlfriends mum. I very nearly replaced it with a DeLorean (yes, really and I wish I had as they are worth about 3 or 4 times more now than they were then) but went uber sensible and got a brand new Skoda Fabia estate when I started my first proper job after university.
 

GW4117

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2021
Messages
19
Location
West Berkshire
First car was a Ford Cortina 2.0L, S registration 1978, bought it in '84 with 124k on the clock.
Only lasted a year or so, but happy memories of great music driving round.
 

Bevan Price

Established Member
Joined
22 Apr 2010
Messages
7,320
My first was a Morris Marina in 1972 soon after passing my driving test (at the 3rd attempt). I kept it for 10 years, and would have been happy to keep it for much longer, but protection against body rust was very poor, so it had to be replaced.
 

Fyldeboy

Member
Joined
29 Jan 2020
Messages
171
Location
Swansea
Passed my test in 1983 (18) but didn't drive again for a couple of years - didn't have the chance - and that was only a 1 day hire of an Escort Van, with a rear door held closed by rope.
My first car was bought in 1987 - a 1976 Vauxhall Viva without a working speedo! £200.
 

trainmania100

Established Member
Joined
8 Nov 2015
Messages
2,566
Location
Newhaven
My first car was a Kia picanto 2006. I ditched it because I ended up spending more money on it, the abs hubs, an oil leak (which looking at its MOT history it still has to this day)
Now I drive a 13 reg ford focus ecoboost 1 litre (I hear the timing belt change is a messy job)
 

40129

Member
Joined
23 May 2014
Messages
412
Passed my test at 17 but didn't get my own car until after finishing college and getting a permanent job.

First car was a 1998 Ford Fiesta bought new. It somehow lasted 4 years despite the build quality being on the poor side. Replaced it with a new Peugeot 307 which was the worst car vehicle I've ever driven - somehow put up with it for 3 years. Replaced that with a new Skoda Fabia which lasted 11 years and was replaced with another new Fabia which has lasted four years so far. All other things being equal, my next car will also be a Skoda Fabia.
 

Cambus731

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2013
Messages
1,121
1966 Ford Cortina mk2 HJD912D. Like most mk2s he was blue mink. I had him from 1993 to 1996. He was older than me.
He was a very early mk2 with a pushrod pre crossbow 1500 engine. And a Borg Warner automatic gearbox and a dash mounted handbrake. And a Dynamo rather than an Alternator. I bought him for £250 and sold him for £300.
I have no idea if he may survive somewhere off the road, or if he may have ended up bring cannibalised to keep another Cortina going.
Under my ownership his gearbox was reconditioned and the drive plate was replaced. And his McPhersons struts were repaired. And his floor pan received a lot of welding, so it's a shame to think he may not have survived long with his new human.
 

roversfan2001

Established Member
Joined
19 Feb 2016
Messages
1,666
Location
Lancashire
1966 Ford Cortina mk2 HJD912D. Like most mk2s he was blue mink. I had him from 1993 to 1996. He was older than me.
He was a very early mk2 with a pushrod pre crossbow 1500 engine. And a Borg Warner automatic gearbox and a dash mounted handbrake. And a Dynamo rather than an Alternator. I bought him for £250 and sold him for £300.
I have no idea if he may survive somewhere off the road, or if he may have ended up bring cannibalised to keep another Cortina going.
Under my ownership his gearbox was reconditioned and the drive plate was replaced. And his McPhersons struts were repaired. And his floor pan received a lot of welding, so it's a shame to think he may not have survived long with his new human.
That vehicle hasn't been taxed since the end of February 1997 so safe to say it's no longer on the road. :lol:
 

Cambus731

Member
Joined
19 Jul 2013
Messages
1,121
That vehicle hasn't been taxed since the end of February 1997 so safe to say it's no longer on the road. :lol:
I am aware he is not on the road. What I was saying I do hope he does survive off the road. After all a friend of mine has a Zephyr mk3 that has been off the road since at least 1992. But he is hopeful of getting it back on the Queen's Highway sometime. ( I personally don't think he ever will)
 
Last edited:

A0wen

On Moderation
Joined
19 Jan 2008
Messages
7,450
Not me, I'm bucking the trend with my 51-reg Rover 75 and 03-reg Renault Laguna, paying less than £2,000 combined to acquire them. I've had the latter for nearly six years and it's been extremely reliable, with the only major expense in that time being a clutch replacement.

I'm pretty sure my friends think my taste in cars is rather odd.

You've been fortunate with the Laguna - they have a terrible reputation for reliability.

Going back 20 years (eek) I got a new Mondeo as a company car and one of my colleagues got a Laguna. The Mondeo was generally reliable, the Laguna endlessly problematic.
 

75A

Established Member
Joined
31 Mar 2021
Messages
1,356
Location
Ireland (ex Brighton 75A)
Passed my test in 77 and was given my Fathers 1973 (L) Austin 1800.
The deal was I wouldn't have a moped @ 16 and would be given the 1800 when I passed.
A nice big car - good for putting my kart on the roof rack and travelling around the south east.
Went through a string of Escort RS & XR's, before a 911 (hated it) and more recently Range Rovers. Yes I do wear a flat cap and hate cyclists :lol:
 
Last edited:

delticdave

Member
Joined
14 Apr 2017
Messages
449
Passed my test at 17 but didn't get my own car until after finishing college and getting a permanent job.

First car was a 1998 Ford Fiesta bought new. It somehow lasted 4 years despite the build quality being on the poor side. Replaced it with a new Peugeot 307 which was the worst car vehicle I've ever driven - somehow put up with it for 3 years. Replaced that with a new Skoda Fabia which lasted 11 years and was replaced with another new Fabia which has lasted four years so far. All other things being equal, my next car will also be a Skoda Fabia.

You may not know that the next-generation Fabia will arrive later this year. It will use the MQB AO platform which is also the be found in the current VW Polo & other VAG brands.

If you feel that you need more space, Skoda makes the Scala 5-door hatchback, first sold here in 2019 & with decent reports from the motoring press.

HTH DC, still driving an 9 year old Superb...
 

ABB125

Established Member
Joined
23 Jul 2016
Messages
3,746
Location
University of Birmingham
You may not know that the next-generation Fabia will arrive later this year. It will use the MQB AO platform which is also the be found in the current VW Polo & other VAG brands.

If you feel that you need more space, Skoda makes the Scala 5-door hatchback, first sold here in 2019 & with decent reports from the motoring press.

HTH DC, still driving an 9 year old Superb...
Apparently the Scala has some very good deals on it, because hardly anyone's buying it
 

gswindale

Member
Joined
1 Jun 2010
Messages
788
I passed in 2006 at the relatively old age of 27. Got by sharing the wife's Ka for 3 years until my office was relocated. My first car was an almost 3 year old Toyota Auris purchased in Jan 2010 (with 19k on the clock). After about 5 1/2 years, the water pump needed replacing, and I finally replaced it after 7 years and 89k miles when the brake sensors started playing up (slightly scary when doing 70 heading towards a roundabout bordered by a river on one side in icy conditions). Replacement is a 63 plate Auris and that has been fine so far
 

delticdave

Member
Joined
14 Apr 2017
Messages
449
Apparently the Scala has some very good deals on it, because hardly anyone's buying it
The Scala is an oddball in that it's bigger than a Golf but cheaper.... The UK is not likely to buy many of them, it's really intended for Skoda's old Eastern European markets as a more affordable (than an Octavia) roomy family hatchback.

If Skoda were allowed to build a vRS version (with better suspension, etc.) I might be interested but that won't happen. The same goes for a 4WD petrol vRS Octavia, but again, it will never happen.
 

ABB125

Established Member
Joined
23 Jul 2016
Messages
3,746
Location
University of Birmingham
The Scala is an oddball in that it's bigger than a Golf but cheaper.... The UK is not likely to buy many of them, it's really intended for Skoda's old Eastern European markets as a more affordable (than an Octavia) roomy family hatchback.
Similarly, as my dad has discovered, the new Superb hybrid is cheaper than the new Passat hybrid, despite being slightly bigger.
Basically, Skoda is cheaper!
 

eMeS

Member
Joined
12 Jun 2011
Messages
954
Location
Milton Keynes, UK
My first car was a 3.4 litre Jaguar Mark VII.

It was 11 years old, and acquired in 1963, with >100,000 miles on it; I passed my test at 22 in 1960 in a 998cc(?) Ford Escort. The Jaguar was well used and initially very poor on fuel giving around 11-12mpg. I put in a lot of time working on it, and after cleaning the filthy air-filter, and renewing the SU carburreter jets etc., getting the brakes off by going back to the correct brake master cylinder, I got it up to 22mpg. Great fun, but sadly on a drive through Yugoslavia in 1965 its big ends failed, and I had to give it away to the Yugo Customs - otherwise I would have been fined the import duty as on a new car! Earlier in 1964 I drove it from Hendon to Preston in 3h 30m cruising at around 95-97mph; that was when our few motorways did not have speed limits. On getting to Preston I checked the oil and it needed 2 gallons in the 3 gallon sump. Great fun, but it didn't last. My next car was a Hillman Imp bought new - pure rubbish...
 

Attachments

  • 0002cas My first car - Jaguar MkVII.jpg
    0002cas My first car - Jaguar MkVII.jpg
    146.9 KB · Views: 15
  • 0003 My Jaguar PKJ957 in Austria, early morning before setting off into Yugoslavia.jpg
    0003 My Jaguar PKJ957 in Austria, early morning before setting off into Yugoslavia.jpg
    318.9 KB · Views: 15
  • 0005 At Nis, handing my car to Yugo Customs.jpg
    0005 At Nis, handing my car to Yugo Customs.jpg
    408.1 KB · Views: 15
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top